Dual range transmission



March 26, 1940.

D. D. DOOLEY DUAL RANGE TRANSMISSION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1938 A" 1 'MW March 26,1940. D. D. DOOLEY z,i94,s23

DUAL RANGE TRANSMISS ION Filed Feb. 19, 1938 :s SheetS -Sheet 2 March 26, 1940. D. D. DOOL EY 2,194,823

DUAL RANGE TRANSMISSION Filed Feb. 19 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 1940 DUAL RANGE TRANSMISSION Delmar D. Dooley, Rock Island, Ill., assignor of one-fourth to Clarence H. Dooley, Rock Island, Ill., one-fourth to H. Keith Dooley, Los

' Angeles, Calif., and one-fourth to Herbert 0.

Snow, Auburn, Ind.

Application February 19, 1938, Serial No. 191,434

5 Claims.

The principal object of the pmsent invention is the provision of a dual range transmission unit adapted to be connected to a conventional transmission or gear box, preferably at the driven or output end thereof, so that, without requiring any change in the standard transmission or the gear shifting control for the same, other than the mounting of the auxiliary unit on the rear of the transmission housing, the operator has the option of two speed ranges in any available ratio that the operator may select in the conventional transmission.

Auxiliary units of this character are generally used in association with automobile transmissions so as to secure what is usually termed an overdrive in order to secure increased car speeds without increasing the speed of the motor. Overdrive units of this character are usually then made in two forms, one a unit incorporated in a special transmission and the other incorporated in a special type of rear axle. Usually, also, such units have been automatically controlled or provided witha semi-automatic control, which make such units quite complicated, especially in the overdrive transmission type in which speed determining governor mechanism was incorporated.- Moreover, units of this latter type required specially constructed transmissions with the result that they could not beemployed with conventional transmissions.

An important object, therefore, of the present invention is the provision of a small, lightweight yet sturdy auxiliary or dual range transmission which, with very simple changes, can be used with conventional transmissions and can be incorporated as an attachment to automobiles already manufactured and in use.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a dual range auxiliary trans mission which does not include any governors, friction clutches, or the like but which can be shifted at any time, whether the automobile is at rest or in motion, to select the range or ratio desired.

A further object of the present invention in this connection is the provision of a separate control of a simple mechanical or power actuated construction whereby the operator at any time may select direct or overdrive, entirely independently of the speed of the car or the ratio that may be selected in the conventional transmission.

Another important feature of this invention is the provision of a dual range overdrive transmission providing two available ratios selected by clutch mechanism I that incorporates synchronizing means, thus making it possible in this way to permit the operator to select either ratio at any time it is desired to do so, simply by disengaging the engine clutch and making the desired shift in the usual manner and as simply as a selected ratio is engaged in a conventional means.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a dual range overdrive transmission in the nature of an attachment for a conventional transmission and which can be inexpensively manufactured and sold, and which is sturdy, compact and long lived and in which the moving parts are accurately supported and held in proper alignment.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled'in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred transmission having synchronizing form of my invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view, partly diagrammatic in character, illustrating the application of a dual range transmissionunit to a conventional automobile transmission and controlled by a simple operator-actuated mechanism;

Figure 2 is a modified form of controlling ,means for the auxiliary transmission, whereby the latter may be shifted by power, such as, for example, vacuum from the intake manifold of the motor;

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing the details of my dual range transmission unit;

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a section, similar to Figure 3, illustrating a modified form of my invention in'-' corporating certain improvements over'the form.

generally at H. The transmission I0 includes a housing l2, a cover l3 having pedestal I4, and a conventional gear shift lever l5 supported for longitudinal and lateral movement on the pedestal I4 and arranged to control the usual transmission gears (not shown) enclosed within the transmission housing I2, through which the main transmission shaft I6 is driven.

The auxiliary dual range transmission unit embodying the principals of the present invention is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a casing 2| having at its forward end a flange 22 by which the housing 2| can be detachably connected to the rear wall of the transmission housing I2 by suitable cap screws 23 or the like.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, the auxiliary transmission chosen to illustrate the principles of the present invention includes the mechanism providing either a direct connection or an overdrive. The overdrive is secured by means of an epicyclic gear unit indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 25 and including a ring gear 26 having a hearing hub portion 21 which receives anti-friction bearing means 28 supported in a flange 29 formed in the rear wall 30 of the housing 2|. Suitable sealing means, not shown, is provided for preventing loss of lubricant at this point. The hub 21 of the ring gear 26 is splined and receives the rear end of a driven shaft 35, the forward end of which is also splined, as at 36, and has a reduced end 31 supported by a pilot bearing 38 in a recess 39 formed in the rear end of the transmission main shaft I6. The latter is also splined and receives the hub 42 of a driving member indicated in its entirety by the numeral 43. The hub 42 receives anti-friction bearing means 44 which is carried by the rear wall of the transmission housing I2 and supports the rear end of the driven transmission main shaft I6 through the hub of the member 43. It will be noted that the pilot bearing 38 and the bearing 44 are disposed substantially in the plane of the rear wall of the transmission housing I2. Thus, the forward end of the transmission shaft 35 is supported in the rear wall of the transmission housing I2 while the rear end of the shaft 35 is supported by the rear wall of the auxiliary transmission housing 2 I.

The epicyclic gear unit 25 includes the ring gear 26, described above, a plurality of planet gears 50 which are supported in a gear cage 5|, and a sun gear 53, the planet gears 50 being in mesh with the ring gear 26 and the sun gear 53. The planet gear cage or carrier 5| comprises a flanged member 55 and a ring 56 held in spaced apart relation by hollow sleeves 58 and rivets 59 which pass through suitable openings in the ring 56 and the flanged member 55, the spacing sleeves 58 being disposed intermediate the planet gears 50, as best indicated in Figure 4. The planet gears 50 are mounted on needle bearings 6| which are carried on tubular pins 62, each of which has a lubricant recess 63. A bushing 65 is disposed between the sun gear 53 and the hub 66 of the planet carrier member 55, the latter being extended forwardly, as at 55* and splined as will be referred to later. A bushing 65 is disposed between the hub section 66 of the member 55 and the driven shaft 35.

The sun gear 53 is fixed to or formed integral with a yoke 61 (Figure 4) having two arms 68 and 69 which are provided with angularly disposed ends 10 and 1|, the outer surfaces of which are arcuate about the axis of the shaft 35. The side portions of the housing 2| are formed with pads 13 and 14 which have concave surfaces accurately milled to the same diameter as the exterior of the surfaces of the sections 10 and 'II of the sun gear yoke 61. By virtue of this construction, the milling of the flanged portion 29 and the pads 13 and 14 can be done with the same center setting, thereby providing exceptional accuracy in the alignment of the operating parts. A pair of cap screws 11 and 18 are disposed in openings in the pads 13 and 14 and threaded into the ends 10 and 1| of the sun gear yoke 61, thereby holding the sun gear 53 against rotation.

, According to the principles of the present invention, suitable clutch mechanism is provided for optionally connecting either the driven shaft 35 or the gear change unit 25 to receive power from the driven shaft I6 of the transmission I0. The driving member 43, mentioned above, is provided with a generally cylindrical section 90 which has a diameter appreciably larger than 'the forward end of the driven shaft 35 and is provided with two longitudinally extending openings or slots 9| and 92. A clutch ring 94 is disposed within the section 90 and has two lugs 95 and 96 disposed in the slots 9| and 92, whereby the clutch ring 94 is connected in driving relation to the transmission main shaft I6 through the driving member 43. The shiftable clutch ring 94 is provided with a plurality of radially inwardly directed splines or teeth 91 which engage companion teeth or splines 98 formed on the exterior surface of a synchronizing member I having opposed conical synchronizing surfaces IM and I02. A clutch collar I is splined or otherwise fixed to the forward end of the driven shaft 35 and has radially outwardly extending clutch teeth I06 and an inwardly directed synchronizing conical surface I01. A

similarly constructed clutch collar H0 is splined or otherwise fixed to the forward end 55 of the planet gear carrier hub 66, and the member IIO has radially outwardly extending teeth H2 and not particularly concerned with the details per,

se of such synchronizing means. The lugs 95 and 96 of the clutch member 94 are grooved, as at I20, and receive a thrust ring I2I, the groove I22 of which receives a shift fork I23, best shown in Figure 1.

The mechanism employed for shifting the clutch member 94 of the auxiliary transmission is preferably either a mechanical remote control or ar'emote control employing some source of power, such as vacuum from the intake manifold of the motor. Referring now to Figure 1, the upper wall of the housing 2| is provided with an opening I35 therein through which the end of the shift fork I23 extends. A closure I36 is disposed over the opening and secured to the housing 2| in any suitable manner. The closure I36 carries a shift rail I31 which is notched to receive a spring pressed detent I38 by which the rail may be held yieldingly in either of two positions. The rail I31 receives the upper end of the shift fork I23 in any suitable manner, and a set screw I39 or any other suitable means may be employed for fixing the shift fork I23 to the rail I31. One end of the rail I31 extends outside the closure 'I36 and has an arm I fixed thereto and which is connected by a link I42 to 2,194,828 one arm of abell crank I43. The latter is piv- The operation of the structure so far described is substantially as follows:

Normally the shiftable clutch member 94 (Figure 3) isengaged with either the companion clutch member I05 or the other clutch member IIO. In Figure 3 the clutch member 94 is shown as engaging the clutch collar I05, and when the parts are in this position the drive from the main shaft It or the transmission I is transmitted through the driving member 43 and the clutch collar or ring 94 to the clutch collar I that is fixed to the forward end of the driven shaft 35, so that in this position the drive is transmitted directly from the shaft I S to the driven shaft -35, the shaft IE in this relation serving as the driving shaft for the transmission unit 20.

When it is desired to transmit the drive to' the driven shaft 35 at a higher speed, the operator 'pulls out on the handle I51, thereby acting through the links I55 and I5I to swing the bell cranks I52 and M3, respectively, 'in a counterclockwise direction, thereby exerting a thrust rearwardly throughthe link I52 and the arm I4I against the shift rail I31. This movement'acts through the shift fork I23 to first disengage the teeth 51 from the teeth I08 on the clutch collar I05, the synchronizing detent H5 then entering the notch IIB. Continued movement of the shift rail I23 rearwardly first brings the synchronizing cones I52 and H3 into engagement so as to bring the clutch parts 95 and I I0 into synchronized rotation. Continued pressure against the shift fork I23 then causes the notch II 6 to cam the ball 5 downwardly, permitting the clutch member 5d to move rearwardly after the aforesaid synchronization has taken place into driving engagement with the teeth I I2 on the clutch collar IIIl. When this engagement is effected, the drive is then transmitted from the shaft I6 to the planet gear carrier 5I through the clutch collar H0, and since the sungear 53 is stationary, the driven shaft 35 to which the ring gear is fixed is driven at an increased rate. When it is again desired to transmit the drive from the transmission I0 in direct, the operator pushes in on the handle I51, which moves the shift fork I23 in the other direction and brings the parts back to the positions shown in Figure 3.

It is to be noted that in making both of these gear changes, the synchronizing cones operate to cause the clutch parts coming into engagement to be synchronized before actual engagement is initiated. It will also be noted that.- the auxiliary transmission of the present invention adds practically no spinning weight to the transmission so that no difficulty will be encountered in making any desired shift. As a matter of fact,

the only part that is added to the usual transmission structure is the driving member 43, and this is a relatively lightweight part and does not materially increase the spinning effect of the gears in the transmission.

If it should be desired to control the dual range transmission unit 20 by power, the construction indicated in Figure 2 may be adopted. In this form of the present invention a casing I65 is attached to one side of the housing 2|, anda hole I55 is formed in the housing 2| through which the outer end of the shift fork I23 can be extended. A cylinder I51 is formed in the casing I65 and encloses a piston rod I that extends outwardly through an intermediate wall I12 and is operatively fixedto the shift fork I23 in any suitable manner. A pair of suction tubes I14 and I15 are cbnnected to opposite ends of the cylinder I61 and lead to a valve structure indicated in'its entirety by the reference numeral I80. This valvemay be of the plug type and has a valve casing I8 I' into which the tubes I15 and I15 lead at diametrically opposite points. A suction pipe I83 extends from the valve housing I0! to some source of suction, such as the intake of the motor, and diametrically opposite the suction pipe I83 the valve casing I8I has an air inlet I'M. The handle I85 is connected in any suitable manner to a plug valve I01 which is provided with bores I58 and I89 which are so arranged that when the handle I85 is disposedin the position shown in full lines in Figure 2, the source of suction I83 is connected to the suction line I14, and the other line I15 is .connected through the other bore I 85 to the atmospheric inlet. When the parts are in this position, the suction draws the piston I to the left, thereby shifting the parts of the dual range transmission into the positions shown in Figure 3. When the valve handle I05 is turned into the position shown in dotted lines, the connections are reversed so that the piston I 10 is drawn in the other direction thereby establishing overdrive.

I having a piston v In the auxiliary transmission described above the transmission main shaft I5 has a recess 39 therein especially adapted to receive the forward end 31 of the auxiliary transmission driven shaft 35. In a number.of instances the conventional transmission regularly supplied for automobiles and the like do not have a recess such as is indicated at 39 in Figure 3, and in order to, provide an auxiliary transmission in the form of an attachment for transmissions of this type that are already in use the construction shown in Figure 5 may be adopted. This form of the present invention requires no change whatsoever in the conventional transmission and is especially constructed so as to be attached to the rear end thereof, the only change necessary in the vehicle being the use of a shorterpropeller shaft and torque tube, if any, and the incorporation of the desired control for the auxiliary transmission.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 5, a conventional transmission in use at the present time is indicated by the reference numeral 200 and includes a driven shaft 20I supported in the rear wall 202 of the transmission 200 by suitableanti-friction bearings 203. The transmission housing 205 is extended at 206 to form a casing which encloses the rear spllned end of the main shaft HI and the speedometer driving gear and universal joint usually associated therewith. The casing section 206 is flanged at 201 to receive the inner and outer caps by which the forward or ball end of the torque tube is normally conthe latter being adapted to be secured directly' to the flange 201 that normally receives the universal joint caps mentioned above. The auxiliary transmission casing 2 extends rearwardly and terminates in a section 2l6 which is formed exactly like the section 206 on the transmission 200, being flanged as at 2H to receive the associated parts of the shortened propeller shaft and torque tube.

The operating parts of the auxiliary transmission shown in Figure 5 are generally the same as described above in connection with Figure 3. The rear splined end of the main transmission shaft 2lil has the forward universal joint part 220 removed therefrom and a driving member 22l is secured in place in its stead, preferably by the usual driving cap screw 222 which bears against a ring 223 and has a lock washer 224. The driving member 22l includes an interior recess 225 which receives a bearing ring 226 in which a bushing 221 is disposed. The bushing 22! forms a bearing support for the forward reduced end 228 of the driven shaft 230 of the auxiliary transmission. This shaft is substantially like the shaft 35 shown in Figure 3 and described above, having a rear splined portion 23l and a forward splined section 232. Secured to the forward splined section 232 is a collar 235 which is preferably formed so as to have a permanent rigid attachment with the shaft 230 when pressed thereon. The peripheral portion of the driving member 22l is toothed or splined, as at 240, and receives in driving relation the forward end of a shiftable sleeve 24!, the latter having teeth 242 engageable with the teeth or splines 240 on the member 22!. The sleeve 241 carries at its rear end a grooved flange 244 which receives the shift fork 245 for controlling the position of the member 241. Another set of teeth 246 are formed on the member 24! and are engaged with the external teeth 24! of a synchronizing member 250 having synchronizing cones 25! and252 carried in sleeves 253 and 254, respectively, each of which has an outer flange which is in toothed engagement with the interior teeth 246 of the sleeve 2 at all times. provided with teeth 255 and a conical section 256 which receives the synchronizing cone 25l when the sleeve MI is shifted forwardly along the splines or teeth 240. The synchronizing mechanism per se employed in the form of invention shown in Figure 5 is otherwise substantially the same as that shown in Figure 3 and described above.

The epicyclic gear unit employed in the form shown in Figure 5 embodies substantially the same parts shown in Figure 3 and described above, and hence no further description of these parts is necessary, the same reference numerals being employed in Figure 5 as in Figure 3 for identical parts. Like the member 235, the clutch collar H0 on the forward end of the planet gear carrier hub 66 is fixed thereto with a press fit so that the two parts are held together rigidly and permanently.

The bearing 28 for the rear end of the auxiliary shaft 230 is carried in the rear wall 260 of the casing 2| l, the latter being extended rearwardly at MS as described above. The rear end of the driven shaft 230 of the auxiliary transmission is provided with an internal threaded recess 28! to receive a cap screw 262 substantially identical with the cap screw 222 mentioned above. The forward part 220 of the universal joint.

which normally is connected to the rear end of The clutch collar 235 is the main transmission shaft 2. is thus fastened rigidly and permanently to the rear end of the auxiliary transmission shaft 230 in substantially the same way that in normal conventional practice it is fastened to the rear end of the main transmission shaft 2M. on the auxiliary transmission casing 2! is adapted to receive the same parts that normally are attached to the flange 201.

-It will be apparent, therefore, that in Figure 5 I have shown an auxiliary transmission which can be applied to the rear end of a conventional transmission without in any way altering the details of the main transmission. It would also be noted that the auxiliary transmission is especially constructed so as to receive parts of the drive system which are conventionally associated with the rear end of the 'usual transmission. Thus, the installation and application of my auxiliary transmission shown in Figure 5 is conveniently and quickly accomplished without having to alter any part of the transmission or without any disassembly of the latter. The only change required being that to provide a shortened propeller shaft and torque tube.

The shiftable clutch sleeve 24! and its shift fork 245 may be controlled in any suitable manner, such as by either of the forms of control shown in Figures 1 and 2 connected to the bracket 2'") on the shift rail 21! to which the shift fork 245 is secured. It will be noted that the clutch sleeve 2 and associated parts shown in Figure 5, by which the drive may be selectively transmitted either directly or through the epicyclic gear unit 25, is a somewhatsimpler construction than the mechanism shown in Figure 3, although the latter is somewhat more compact in a longitudinal direction due to the piloting of the driven shaft 35 in the rear end of the main transmission shaft l6.

Where it is contemplated that an auxiliary transmission might at some time be applied to the main transmission, the latter could be manufactured and supplied to the userswith a recess 39 (Figure 3) so as to facilitate the installation of the form of auxiliary transmission shown in Figure 3. However, for existing transmission,

it may be preferable to provide the auxiliary transmission shown in Figure 5 as an attachment which will require no changes in the main transmission.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided two forms of novel dual range transmissions, each of which is inexpensive to build, has few parts, is relatively short and compact, is easy to assemble, and has no friction clutch or other kind of cushioning device nor any ,overrunning or centrifugal clutch. The selection of the range is at all times under the control of the driver and the shift can be made at all times and in all speeds, either to accelerate or to brake the car through the use of the engine. Further, little or no change is necessary in the standard conventional transmission and all gear shifting of the latter is the same, except for the mounting of the dual range transmission on the rear of the transmission case and the installation of a driving member on the rear end of the transmission main shaft.

The driver can utilize the low range position of the auxiliary transmission in accelerating from first to third speed position in the transmission in the same manner that the conventional transmission has been used, and then the driver can change over to the overdrive or high speed range.

Further, the flange 2H vided by the proper design of the epicyclic gear unit. Preferably, however, as in the constructions shown, in overdrive the propeller shaft is driven approximately thirty per cent faster than in direct drive. It is also to be understood that, if desired. and where the rear axle ratio is high,

the epicyclic gear unit may be arranged to provide an underdrive, instead of an' overdrive. In this case all that it would be necessary to do would be to reverse the-epicyclic gear unit to the extent of connecting the ring gear 26 to the clutch member liii and connecting the sleeve or hub 66.01 the planet gear carrier to the driven shaft. This would place the yoke 61 for the sun gear adjacent the'rear of the housing.

. While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principlesof my invention have been embodied, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described above but that. in fact, widely different means maybe employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A transmission comprising a housing, a driven member mounted for rotation therein, an epicyclic gear unit disposed about said driven shaft and-including a driven member connected to drive saiddriven shaft and a driving part journaled for rotation on said driven shgt and adapted to drive the epicyclic gear unit, a driving member disposed in axial alignment with said driven shaft and including a portion emexterior lugs slidable axially in said 'slots, and

means on theforward end of said driven shaft and the forward portion of said epicyclic gear unit driving part adapted selectively to be engaged directly by said shiftable clutch means.

2. A dual range transmission comprising a housing, a planetary gearunit disposed in said housing and including a ring gear having a hub. a plurality of planet gears meshing with said ring gear, a sun gear meshing with said planet gears, a yoke connected to said sun gear. means fixing said yoke to said housing for holding said sun gear against rotation, a shaft in said housing connected to the hub of said ring gear and extending through said sun gear, a planetary gear carrier for said planet gears including av hub section having bearing support on said shaft and extending axially through said sun gear to a point exterior thereof, thrust bearing means between one end ofsaid planet gear carrier and said ring gear, bearing means supporting said ring gear' for rotation in said housing and preventing axial movement therebetween, acollar fixed tothe outer extended end of said planet gear carrier bearing means between said 001- lar and said yoke, and bearing means between the inner end of said sun gear and said planet gear carrier.

3. Change speed mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which a driving member is mounted for rotation in the end of the housing opposite the end in which said ring gear is mounted and said shaft has bearing support in said driving member, a collar fixed to said shaft, and thrust bear--' gear meshing with said planet gears, means -fix-' ing said sun gear against movement, a shaft in said housing connected to said ring gear and extending through said sun gear, a planetary gear carrier for said planet gears including a hub section having bearing support on said shaft and extending axially through said sun gear to-a point exterior thereof, bearing means supporting said ring gear for rotation in said .housing and preventing axial movement therebetween, thrust bearing means between one end of said planet gear carrier and said ring gear for preventing axial displacement of the gear carrier in one direction, and bearing means between the sun gear and said planet gear carrier for preventing axial displacement of the latter in the other direction.

5. A dual range transmission comprising a housing, a planetary gear unit disposed in'aaid housing and including a ring gear, a plurality'of' I planet gears meshing with said ring 'gear;-a sun gear' meshing with said planet gears, means fixing said sun gear against movement, a shaft in said housing connected'to said ring gear and extending through said sun gear, a planetary gear carrier for said planet gears including a hub section having bearing support on said shaft and extending axially through said sun gear to a point exterior thereof, bearing means supporting said ring gear for rotation in saidhousing and preventing axial movement therebetween in at least one direction, thrust bearingmeans between the inner end of said sun gear and said planet gear carrier, a collar fixed to the outer extended end of the hub section of said planet gear carrier, and thrust bearing means between said collar and the other end of said sun gear.

DELMAR D. DOOLEY. 

